Improvement in post-office boxes



J. SGHALL. Post-Office Box.

i No. 212,749. Patented Feb. 25, 1879.

1 4 1 4 Q) J v 2.

n V H o E K 1121- 7 Wi'nesnses FIGE JONAS SGHALL, OF MOHAWK, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN POST-OFFICE BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2 12,749. dated February 26, 1879; application filed January 4, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONAS ScHALL, of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iost-Ofiice Lock Box and Drawer and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a front view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a side view of the drawer. Fig. 4 is an inside sectional view, representing the lock. Fig. 5 is a hori zontal sectional view on the line a: 00, Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the liney 3 Figs. 4 and 5.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted bylike letters of reference. 7

This invention relates to lock boxes or d awers for postoffices; and it consists in the improvements in the construction of the same which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A represents a drawer, constructed, in the usual manner, with a glass front, B, and open back 0, through which letters, &c., may be placed therein. Under the bottom of the drawer is arranged a spring, D, the tendency of which is to force the drawer out when released from the lock which keeps it closed. The said spring D may be of any suitable kind, and it may be arranged in any manner which will cause it to accomplish the purpose above stated.

The lock consists of a spring, E, secured to the inner side of the side piece, F, of the frame in which the drawer slides. The spring E is curved outwardly toward the drawer, as shown at G, so as to engage with a notch, H, in the side of the drawer, and thereby keep it closed. This springlock is operated by a key, I, inserted through a key-hole, J, in front of side piece, F, the bit of said key operating to push the spring back into the recess K in side piece, F, thus releasing it from the notch, and cansing the drawer to be slid out by the spring D.

In the recess K, below spring E, I arrange a metallic guard, L, the reverse of the bit of the key, which must pass the. guard L before operating the spring, thus preventing the look from being opened by other keys than the one held by the owner of the box, and enabling these locks, in spite of the simplicity of their construction, to be used with perfect safety for a large number of boxes by simply changing the shape of the bit and guard for each key and lock.

To prevent the drawers from being slid entirely out by the action of the springs D, I form upon the side, near the rear end, a notch, M, beveled toward the front, which while not interfering with the closing of the drawer, by engaging with spring E will prevent it from being accidentally slid out, as above stated. When, however, it is desired to remove the drawer, this may easily be done by operating the lock or holding the spring E back by means of the key. The drawer may then be easily removed.

The advantages of my invention will be readily understood. The lock is exceedingly simple, and may be manufactured at a nominal cost; yet it is durable, not likely to become disordered, and safe from the danger of being opened by other keys than those made for it.

It will also be observed that the key maybe turned in a reverse direction without injury to the lock, since the only effect of this willbc to push the spring E slightly back. The difficulty which might be found in avoiding to turn the key too far, thus causing the spring E to relock before time could be found to open the drawer, is overcome by the spring D, which forces the drawer open as soon as spring E is disengaged from the notch H in the side of the drawer.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statcs-- The combination, with the spring E, arranged and operating as herein described, of the sliding box or drawer A, having notch II and beveled notch M, and the spring D, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JONAS SGHALL. lVitnesses:

WM. H. SGHALL, H. M. GOLDEN. 

